[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6491830,"mediaKeyId","5708165-1654ca4d6e1a53be74157225a34e3e9a","parentId",5708165,"title","Kossuth County supervisors: votes and formal actions at a glance","audioSeconds",4442,"startMs",52000,"endMs",4494000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708165-1654ca4d6e1a53be74157225a34e3e9a&start=52&end=4494","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708165-1654ca4d6e1a53be74157225a34e3e9a/thumbnail_52000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6491830/Kossuth-County/Iowa/Kossuth-County-supervisors-votes-and-formal-actions-at-a-glance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491830-11e154256f9ff6eb8c44103ed6eb31be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770589166&Signature=CQ3UdRiywjHXu-UOxY~q79ZpuZE8fRyw8pS7zaqaS3dWmUVGC1g-1PgmxzAmkHdkBPySryQufeiktkreUtNFTheslXDPMaOSKBSrQBPWA4QLMOHAWXyxjwFv9Oq~ExNYIqfCbo7EuKZdgWJeKBEf46V7kNeGitjnkOZHGhQEOGxPOKw~~WatEmSlTkYMmBsLAXkPBHHETN9bqtYne3RzdBbQxnjKK0mOuEaEERT6lWDU0ybkdwBSx1qhE4CETJB3ElQp52WfJA19PhDtcUcGUj65GgeitcKGosNGMO14QmahR~1umpVILUjhj8GBmLIbaxmE238ImA8-jJu-yz50zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kossuth County","date","2025-09-02T21:24:34.487Z","article","KOSSUTH COUNTY — The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors handled several routine and project-specific actions during the meeting. Listed below are motions, votes and key details. Where the meeting transcript did not record full text of a motion or a numeric roll call, this summary notes recorded mover/second and outcome.

Votes and formal actions (selected):

- Agenda and minutes: Board approved the agenda and minutes from Aug. 26. Motion by Haas; second by Garman. Vote: unanimous.

- Accrued claims: The board approved the view/approval of accrued claims as presented. Motion recorded and approved; vote unanimous.

- Handwritten claims: The board approved handwritten claims. Motion by Haas; second by Stecker. Vote: unanimous.

- Courthouse closed for training (October 30): The board approved closing the courthouse to the public on Oct. 30 for a full-day safety training that will include active-shooter exercises, harassment training and other safety topics. Motion by Cal Stecker; second by Howard (Haas). Vote: unanimous. (Staff will notify users that Oct. 13 is no longer the training date.)

- Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant / NIPOC housing trust fund form (USDA): The board authorized staff to complete and sign a closeout or certification form for a rural development housing preservation grant (the agenda listed a \"NIPOC housing trust fund USDA...housing preservation grant\" item). Motion by Cal Stecker; second by Amber Garman. Vote: unanimous.

- Bid opening — Idel's Lusher Saturated Buffer Project: One bid was opened and read aloud from Wrightsil Excavating Inc.; the apparent bid total was $433,810.00. The bid was accepted for mathematical checking and will return to the board with a recommendation after IDALS review; no award decision was made at the meeting.

- Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative request (construction in road-right-of-way): The board approved an application from Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative to extend an existing overhead line on Fiftieth Avenue (approximately 800 feet). Motion and second recorded; vote unanimous.

- Change order No. 2 (DD 4 / Lp 40 improvements): The board approved change order No. 2 for additional concrete quantities on the Lp 40 project (added quantity for 48-inch concrete pipe noted in paperwork). Motion by Stecker; second Hobbs. Vote: unanimous.

- Payment/application approval (Project payout): The board approved payment request No. 4 for the Lp 40 project (remaining balance reported as approximately $12,000). Motion and second recorded; vote unanimous.

- Drainage repair requests: The board approved listed repair requests (including Line 31 / Section 17 and Ramsey Section 35 repairs) and authorized staff/contractors to proceed. Motion and second recorded; votes recorded as approved.

- Opioid settlements: The board authorized the county attorney to sign participation documents for new opioid settlements and any similar settlements that arrive. Motion by Cal Stecker; second by Hobbs. Vote: unanimous.

How actions will be implemented: Several items require follow-up by staff — for example, the bid opened will be verified and returned with a recommendation after IDALS checks, staff will notify courthouse users of the Oct. 30 closure, and the county attorney will sign opioid settlement documents and notify the board. For drainage items and change orders, inspectors and engineers will finalize paperwork before final payments.

If a given motion lacked a full textual motion in the transcript, this roundup reports the outcome and mover/second as recorded on the record. The board did not adopt the solar ordinance at this meeting and deferred final adoption until a revised draft is circulated and all supervisors can participate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kossuth County Board of Supervisors Meeting 9/2/2025 Part 1 of 1","oneSentenceSummary","A roundup of formal actions and votes taken by the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors during the meeting, including approvals of routine claims, courthouse closure for staff training, a USDA grant closeout form, a utility permit, drainage change order and repair requests, and bid opening results.","taxTitle","Kossuth County, Iowa","taxId",69823,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6491834,"Supervisors authorize county attorney to sign on new opioid settlement participation",726,3742000,4468000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708165-1654ca4d6e1a53be74157225a34e3e9a&start=3742&end=4468","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708165-1654ca4d6e1a53be74157225a34e3e9a/thumbnail_3742000.jpg","/articles/6491834/Kossuth-County/Iowa/Supervisors-authorize-county-attorney-to-sign-on-new-opioid-settlement-participation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491834-19b4d5a6937822fc4d809f5a02582f8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770589166&Signature=afYDGVlKeVI5iy98ff1SMGW6EbtQOGkxvsat4SrVNxbIjpLp7UUPfZdAgV8nlnIDyOgIBeqx2qZLO5smHeYvvmbnlKqOmWAuvqYqyRIukSpPqAZqxaBEKq2wk1EFEKywtjLre1IbqwNkb3WNfAOgNKRhXsSUy513NzslZDDK2DK1n8O13mU-5a9VRTJiawV2PAfjAXz7EPJNlbqn5xc4Ul1rt5n4c7b1RxCe7oXzHk~olaUV7j26Saa5acH8Hri3B5Z62ohvmhfeHoco-sWTK1NxpVhRQkHaYiL4u0z1FZC0CXfEfyktT0NP~i0nzX45ioW-5YG1RI9IJL4KN7W0Kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","KOSSUTH COUNTY — The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to authorize the county attorney to sign county documents to accept and participate in upcoming opioid settlements, including the Purdue/Sackler settlement and a separate manufacturers’ settlement with multiple drug companies.

County legal staff briefed the board on the settlements and the timelines: the Purdue/Sackler settlement requires action before a September deadline and was described as an aggregate national agreement expected to provide payments over a multi‑year period; another manufacturers’ settlement has an October deadline and includes multiple manufacturers with individually negotiated amounts and payment schedules. County staff said all funds accepted under these settlements must be used for opioid remediation activities as defined in the settlement agreements.

Board members asked how the county will decide grants or expenditures from the opioid fund. The county has formed a small review committee — including the auditor, county attorney and other county staff and anticipated community partners such as a school representative and hospital representative — that will evaluate applications and recommend allocations to the board. County staff said the fund balance currently available for local opioid remediation is $159,970.53; interest earned on the fund must remain in the fund and would increase available dollars over time.

Motion to authorize the county attorney to sign settlement participation documents passed unanimously. Supervisors said they expect the county attorney to sign the currently known settlement documents and to notify the board of any additional settlements that become available.","The board authorized the county attorney to sign county participation in upcoming opioid settlements. County staff outlined the national settlement amounts and said local funds must be used for opioid remediation; Kossuth County’s current opioid fund balance was reported at $159,970.53.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6491839,"Supervisors revise draft drainage policy language; add GPS point requirement for repair claims",4145,5593000,9738000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708165-1654ca4d6e1a53be74157225a34e3e9a&start=5593&end=9738","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708165-1654ca4d6e1a53be74157225a34e3e9a/thumbnail_5593000.jpg","/articles/6491839/Kossuth-County/Iowa/Supervisors-revise-draft-drainage-policy-language-add-GPS-point-requirement-for-repair-claims","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491839-054610a0d9a129b6f20ff83da6427b80/orig.mp4?Expires=1770589166&Signature=l-E6pVm2X8y2fzFz06tUyjzlyBDpKra3ZRrzWTNd1vPbCPqnuNbpub-d9HJR1AD4CbIvEfCD8lG4baBTckirj2XUPsaxwBTL1ktqIPorZJAya9tHm7ZTv7nYX~ee2CuxO6aEfXZtK2SLaCF5yBAaVY~7n4EkvF0kdMVmif1QkZt7OZsaJ0VwMsZG5yuotql0HuvDFeFMaGIc5n29zWeV8mZVSoEgodZFa7hkSPSzV~ZBgfZ2l6Q6eV36Mt5jJm9LR80vaYrU-nqxOWxSrzMKH0Oa-vDlOMIVLzsOgxMR4MuN9o7nOjsuGG2oewCpjtQ56thQ7f8JHc6KXNcZsO9xyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","KOSSUTH COUNTY — Kossuth County supervisors reviewed an updated drainage policy format intended to standardize how drainage repair requests, assessments and litigation notices are handled and agreed on several substantive edits, including a requirement that GPS coordinates accompany drainage repair claims before invoices will be paid.

Auditor Tammy Giddon and road staff presented the draft policy, which consolidates earlier guidance and adds steps for documenting repairs and for notifying landowners when litigation affects a drainage district. Supervisors discussed making GPS coordinates and photos a required part of repair documentation so the county retains a consistent electronic record of work, including before/after images and point locations.

Supervisors asked staff to ensure the policy specifies how drainage district trustees should submit requests and how the county will record receipt (for example, stamped meeting minutes or a simple trustee-signed form), and to set a deadline for private drainage trustees to submit requests for assessments. The board suggested an April 30 deadline for trustee requests that would need to be included in that year's assessment cycle.

On litigation and assessment notification, the board agreed staff should send an informational notice to affected landowners when litigation is initiated in a district and to include a drainage-related update with the annual drainage assessment mailing. Supervisors discussed concerns about the cost and potential confusion if a short-lived suit triggered a mass mailing, but concluded landowners should be informed when litigation is active and that staff should coordinate timing and format with the treasurer’s office.

Staff said the county currently purchases a license for a mapping/GIS application used to record repair points and that the county will require contractors to add GPS points and supporting images to claims; staff recommended the county cover the license if the policy makes the tool a required step for paid repairs.

The board did not adopt the policy in final form at the meeting; supervisors asked staff to incorporate the discussed edits (including the April 30 trustee deadline, the litigation-notice language and the “GPS points required before invoice payment” language) and return with a final draft for approval at the next meeting.","Board reviewed an updated drainage policy template, agreed to require GPS coordinates and photographic evidence for repair claims, and discussed timing and notice for drainage-district assessments and litigation notifications. Final approval was deferred for a follow-up meeting after staff incorporates edits.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6491844,"Kossuth County supervisors continue review of draft ordinance for large solar projects",2821,732000,3553000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708165-1654ca4d6e1a53be74157225a34e3e9a&start=732&end=3553","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708165-1654ca4d6e1a53be74157225a34e3e9a/thumbnail_732000.jpg","/articles/6491844/Kossuth-County/Iowa/Kossuth-County-supervisors-continue-review-of-draft-ordinance-for-large-solar-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491844-46da75c1ac3b78fcdcddff4f3b6134e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770589166&Signature=mRbX36DWv-l7wACordXW-0bdJUa5DfG6Rir0JoMBS4S0hMhjGg6DGyI8r1uBxLQiBJjKgAC9uyGS0WC3jJJ6WLL8uFl1JdjQozKDobhpAiVAbDhiwJpTCk10AtneJOQ3eUQ5dOp8eMQhx-G89Fx24XPxuPEzOZz1t~dl5TclfEwZxUtF8mwPCyQOOk-aKfsXqYb5O87lIO2Zt~hln~tYDek3C6MaKbXcqzzi5IbsbZmlGvr48PeOqIVvwreMxxG1pwVRVAwUlrlCbQmBffKA5plN1nYc-mrIvLWJFtwT5XYWInlfvtESAcBWyK3Wm7ueDY2PORhUjL5aCVvUE-WuUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","KOSSUTH COUNTY — The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors spent a substantial portion of its meeting discussing a draft ordinance to regulate utility-scale solar projects, examining setback distances from residences, how to define the regulated project size, and application requirements including decommissioning and permitting fees.

County legal counsel led the conversation and asked the board whether the ordinance should regulate projects by energy output, acreage or both, noting the state standard differs from the draft. Supervisors and conservation staff discussed details of setbacks from occupied residences and from county or drainage infrastructure, and whether waivers from neighboring landowners should be permitted to reduce the setback in individual cases.

The discussion matters because the county’s comprehensive plan and agricultural land policies guide local land-use decisions and a local ordinance would set requirements for how large solar projects are sited and reviewed. Board members said they wanted to preserve agricultural land while giving owners a pathway to develop clean-energy projects.

Board members debated two main approaches to defining which projects the county will regulate: an output-based threshold tied to megawatts and a land-use threshold tied to contiguous acreage. County counsel advised that defining regulated systems by output could overlap with state utility regulation and that land area can be a clearer local standard tied to the county’s agricultural-preservation goals. Supervisors discussed language that would track state definitions while also including a local acreage threshold (examples discussed included 10 megawatts/30 acres in the draft and the state’s 25-megawatt standard). Several supervisors favored aligning definitions with state code language but adding a 30-acre contiguous-land threshold so county review would capture projects with larger land footprints even if state capacity thresholds differ.

On resident setbacks, Supervisor Amber Garman said some constituents consider a 500-foot setback from an occupied residence “too much” and urged the board to consider smaller distances to avoid preventing local projects. Counsel cautioned that any setback needs a legal nexus to the county’s stated purpose for the regulation and warned against arbitrary distances without supporting findings. The board discussed measuring setbacks from an exterior wall of an occupied residence, rather than a property line, and whether to allow negotiated waivers signed by neighboring property owners to address local concerns.

Drainage and tile infrastructure also drew attention. Counsel and county staff recommended referencing Iowa Code provisions for drainage districts (Iowa Code chapter 468) and making explicit how proposed projects must account for public drainage district tile and open ditches; the draft will clarify whether private tile requires coordination and whether drainage-district trustees must consent to crossings.

Supervisors discussed decommissioning requirements, who should review decommissioning plans, and whether the county engineer or planning and zoning staff should play a formal review role. Several supervisors recommended the county retain the authority to approve decommissioning plans while requesting technical input from the county engineer or outside engineers when needed. The board also discussed financial-security requirements and the frequency that decommissioning plans must be updated.

On permitting fees, staff said the draft currently sets a $1,000 application fee but warned that a single flat fee may not reflect staff time on larger projects; the board asked staff to consider fee structures that scale with project scope. Counsel recommended putting fee amounts in a resolution so the board could adjust them without repealing the ordinance.

The law firm representative said he will revise the draft to more closely track the state definition for utility-scale projects and add explicit references to Iowa Code 468 for drainage-district issues, then circulate a revised draft for further discussion. The board did not take a final vote on the ordinance at this meeting and deferred final action until members absent from the discussion can participate.

The board directed staff to produce a revised ordinance incorporating the changes discussed and to provide a fresh copy for the next meeting so members may review and continue deliberations.","Supervisors and county legal counsel reviewed a draft ordinance to regulate utility-scale solar projects, debating setbacks from residences, whether to tie regulation to megawatt capacity or acreage, and requirements for waivers, drainage and decommissioning. No final vote was taken; staff will revise the draft for further review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kossuth County supervisors: votes and formal actions at a glance

Supervisors authorize county attorney to sign on new opioid settlement participation

Supervisors revise draft drainage policy language; add GPS point requirement for repair claims

Kossuth County supervisors continue review of draft ordinance for large solar projects